1RomanceEB Chapter 66 Another Peter
Chapter 66 Another Peter
Herbert, who hadn't said much until now, stepped forward, his face regaining its confident glow:
"I know how to use it. I used Wang Laboratories' system when I was an undergraduate at MIT!"
Allen's expression softened a bit as he watched Herbert take the initiative to operate the equipment. He raised his hand and patted Herbert's back hard.
"Do a good job. As long as you can find Jacques's faults in these accounts, I will personally help you keep your license to practice law, and I can cover up all the penalties imposed on you by the law firm."
Herbert paused, nodded emphatically, and his gaze became even more focused.
Allen turned his head to look at Zeke:
"Zick, are you satisfied with our service? I can tell you right now that Casablanca is definitely not clean in this matter. They knew Jacques' company had problems but still made the payment. There might be some shady dealings behind the scenes."
"But don't worry, we'll play the bad guy, you don't need to offend anyone. I'm going to teach these California tennis players what Brooklyn table manners are all about—if you dare to take advantage of us, you'll pay the price!"
In that brief exchange, Zeke had already witnessed the formidable strength of this senior partner. With such a top-tier lawyer—daring, sharp-tongued, and highly professional—on the side, his sense of security was at its peak. He no longer needed to worry about Casablanca passing the buck.
He raised his hand and solemnly shook hands with Allen: "Very satisfied. Looking forward to our future cooperation."
"Herbert, don't just focus on the cash flow. Pay more attention to checking the inventory records, especially where the number of free gifts, promotional materials, and free CDs doesn't match the actual shipments. There's a good chance something's fishy going on."
Although Zeke couldn't understand how this top-of-the-line 1970s computer system worked, he had worked in publicity and distribution and had experienced the workings of the industry from the bottom up, so he was fairly familiar with some of the shady practices of record companies.
Herbert responded readily, his hands becoming increasingly skilled as he quickly retrieved the bidirectional account data and compared and verified it line by line.
"I need to go to the film set to shoot the music video for my new song. I'll leave the checking of accounts and copyright registration to you guys. Let's meet again tonight and finalize the Spider Band deal together, resolving all the issues once and for all."
Herbert quickly turned his head, his eyes slightly red: "Zick, thank you for believing in me again. I promise I won't let you down!"
Zik smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and said nothing more.
Stepping out of the stuffy server room, the sunlight suddenly streamed in. As he walked, Zeke glanced at Tino beside him and asked in a low voice, "How's your progress?"
Tino's friends are a bit slow; two days have passed and there's still no news.
Tino looked embarrassed: "Jacques Morali heard that my 'friends' were looking for him, so he went straight to Club 54, a place my friends can't even get into."
"That bastard is fucking cunning," Zeke cursed through gritted teeth.
Club 54 is undoubtedly New York's disco mecca, a gathering place for celebrities and the powerful, with incredibly strong backing. Rumor has it that it has intricate connections with the five major New York Mafia families.
It's perfectly normal that Tino's friends can't get in.
This place operates on a selective entry system; only the most beautiful and stylish people are allowed to enter unless they are powerful and influential figures.
Bianca Jagger, wife of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, once rode in on a white horse, a moment that became a classic and widely reported scene in the American media.
"But don't worry," Tino explained. "The Villagers' second album has just been released. He, as the producer, can't just stay hidden forever. We'll find an opportunity eventually."
"Don't count on it, Tino," Zick shook his head. "The album's reception is too polarized. The gay community is raving about it, but the mainstream market is full of criticism. Public opinion is already set, so whether he comes out to promote it or not won't affect sales. I feel like he can just stay hidden forever."
He grew increasingly annoyed; he was taking advantage of the situation, and that bastard Jacques Morali was doing the same thing.
Casablanca never wanted to offend Morali and Bellolo, who controlled the Village People. The fact that they cooperated with Allen in the audit was already an unexpected bonus.
Expecting Neil Bogart or Larry Harris to personally step in and help him stuff those lowlife "debt collectors" into the 54 Club to arrest people? That's simply a pipe dream.
That place is the pinnacle of New York's desires, and Casablanca's owner is a regular there, part of the rules. It's almost impossible for them to use such methods against a producer who might also be a regular there.
Suppressing his anger, Zeke asked instead, "By the way, have you found out anything about Judy's father?"
"It can't be that fast. Private investigators also need time to work." Tino shrugged, then changed the subject, "But Zeke, there's something I have to remind you. Judy is a thoughtful and good actress. She looks innocent and weak, but don't fall for her too easily and let her lead you around."
"What are you saying?" Zik immediately frowned, his tone displeased.
"Think about it carefully. This whole thing had absolutely nothing to do with you from beginning to end," Tino said seriously. "But now, after you got together with her, you're the one who took all the risks, and you're putting in both money and effort. That's just not right."
"I didn't mean to sow discord between you two, but you're currently only using the Neil Bogarts' names to deal with Evelyn. If you push Evelyn too far and things escalate, they might not be willing to stand up for you. You don't want to have to ask Joyce for help with this, do you?"
"My advice is to back down appropriately and take the initiative to talk to Evelyn. With the strength and determination you've shown, you should be able to force her to give up the idea of having Judy take nude photos. There's no need to fight to the bitter end."
Zik understood that Tino's analysis was mature and reasonable, full of wisdom gained from years of life experience.
A face-to-face meeting was one of her options, but a temporary compromise was not a good solution, and letting Judy continue to live with this kind of mother was not a good choice either.
He didn't want to argue with Tino about this topic, so he simply changed the subject: "Tino, I know your concerns. Let's not talk about this anymore. By the way, who was the director Casablanca hired for the music video?"
"Larry originally wanted to invite Alan Parker, the director of 'Midnight Express,' to come and shoot for two days. His crew happened to be free and had plenty of time. But Alan Parker didn't think much of our low-budget project and wasn't interested in taking it on. However, he recommended a young director to us named David Lynch, who is said to be very good at the kind of industrial, detached style you want."
"David Lynch?" Zeke murmured the name. "Never heard of him. What works has he written?"
"Last year, I made a low-budget horror film called 'Eraserhead.' It didn't do well at the box office, only a few million, but it received very unique reviews," Tino explained simply. "It's said that he took on multiple roles, acting as producer, editor, composer, art director, and production designer all by himself."
"A true all-rounder," Zeke nodded, feeling much more at ease. "Having experience in feature film production is good enough; I have no right to be picky."
"Indeed," Tino remarked. "These kinds of projects rarely attract big-name directors, and most of these short films are only shown in the UK."
Qi Ke was a little puzzled: "Why isn't it being promoted much in the US? I feel like this thing is really good. Visuals combined with songs can definitely go viral quickly and is an excellent way to promote songs."
"The UK has dedicated television programs that broadcast music videos at fixed times, and there are stable broadcasting ports. The US doesn't have these channels, so bands and record companies are willing to pay to send their videos to the UK for broadcast."
"Ha, we worked so hard to film this to add content to their show, and they still want money for it?"
"The radio stations are pretty much the same. We have to give them kickbacks when we send them records. To put it bluntly, it's all about profiting from both the distribution channels and the power they wield."
The two chatted all the way until the car finally arrived at the film set.
Located at the northernmost tip of the San Fernando Valley, Encino is a dairy farm that has not yet been swallowed up by bulldozers.
Beyond the vast grasslands, you can see the traffic rushing along the Vantura Highway, but below you, herds of Holstein cows are leisurely strolling.
The lake water is irrigation water diverted from the Los Angeles Aqueduct; it is clear yet carries a hint of industrial-era coolness.
This location perfectly matched the cool, spacious atmosphere that Zeke wanted for his shots.
Casablanca fully covered the rent for the entire venue, and the budget was incredibly generous. Neil directly approved a special fund of $20,000 and also assigned Stacy, a young female employee from the film department, as executive producer to oversee all the filming details, so Zeke hardly had to worry about anything.
In the center of the ranch, all the filming props, lighting equipment, and photography gear have been set up.
The five members of the Spider Band were all dressed in sharp black suits, and a stylist was styling their hair.
Upon seeing Zeke arrive, executive producer Stacy immediately rushed forward, carrying several exquisite props:
"Zick, about the domino mask you specifically requested before, do you think the style and quality meet your requirements?"
Qi Ke reached out and took it. This was a rather unique prop in the music video. At first, he thought it was a more sophisticated version of the kind of blackout goggles you see in first class on an airplane, but the biggest difference was that both eyes were exposed.
It looked more like a prop for a masquerade ball or a sex toy for the bedroom. After some inquiries, I learned it was called a "Domino Mask," originating from the Venice Carnival. Since the style he wanted wasn't available in stores, he drew a sketch and commissioned Stacey to make a few.
"I hand-modified the details," Stacy explained with a smile. "I added delicate carvings and two styles were embellished with rivets, which better suits the song's avant-garde and cool style, making it definitely trendy enough."
The finished product in my hand has an exquisite and unique design, with a delicate and high-end overall texture. It covers half of the face, revealing only the eyes, and the outline is simple yet full of mystery.
Zeke examined it repeatedly, quite satisfied, and immediately nodded: "Perfect, just the effect I wanted. Thank you for your hard work, Stacey."
"As long as you're satisfied."
Stacy is said to be a student of Peter Cooper, who began holding dual teaching positions at the UCLA School of Drama, Film and Television and the Anderson School of Management in the early 70s.
Zik naturally had to give face to this person with connections.
At that moment, a man in his early thirties with a gentle demeanor stepped forward, and Stacy introduced him as director David Lynch.
"Zick, this little gadget you designed is so interesting, the style is very unique. Peter really 'likes' it too. Stacy, if it's convenient, make a couple for me too." David winked.
"No problem, it's no big deal," Stacy readily agreed.
Zeke paused slightly, instinctively glancing around before asking in confusion, "Peter? Is Mr. Cooper here? I don't see him."
Peter Cooper's distinctive long face is highly recognizable; you can spot him at a glance.
"It's not Mr. Cooper," David Lynch corrected with a smile. "It's Peter Chris, the one from the band KISS, who came all the way here to see you."